Container closure



May 23, 1933. Bl F, CONNER 1,910,913

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed May 12, 1931 f I 1 if* fnl/5271i Dr ESQ/SNN?? 55mm 527 Patented May 2.3, 1933 UNITED ,STATES PATENT OFFICE BENJAMIN F. CONNER, OF 'HARTFORR CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO COLTS PATENT FIRE ARMS MANUFACTURING CO., OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT CONTAINER CLOS'URE Application led May 12, 1931.

Container closures of this class are ordi-i narily provided with resilient gaskets or liners, these gaskets or liners being pressed against the mouths of the containers when the closures are screwed or otherwise moved into their final positions. Gaskets or liners for the purpose described may be made of a cork composition or of natural cork or of rubber or of any one of a number of other more or less resilient materials. When formed of one of the cheaper materials, the liners may be more or less porous, or otherwise imperfect, with the result that leakage occurs. Even with the better materials, leakage may nevertheless occur as the result of imperfections in the container mouths themselves. 4The liners as heretofore used are relatively thin, and, although resilient, they can accommodate themselves only to a limited extent to imperfections in the mouths of the containers.

With a container closure such as described, there is a tendency for the liner, irrespective of the character thereof, to adhere to the bottle or other container, with the result that when the closure or cap is removed the liner remains on the mouth of the bottle. This difficulty may be overcome by providing special liner retaining means formed as integral parts of the closure or cap as shown for instance in the pat'- ent of William F. Schmalz for Container closure or bottle cap, No. 1,844,442 issued February 9, 1932.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide aL-container closure and liner assembly in which the liner is or may be relatively thick to provide a considerable body of resilient material adapted to compensate for irregularities in the mouth ofthe bottle, and wherein the resilient liner S'erial No. 536,781.

is positively held in place by a connector having a portion thereof embedded in the material of which the closure or cap is formed. The use of the connector makes it possible for the liner to be put in place during the process of molding the cap, thus eliminating the separate assembling operation which is necessary when the liner is held in place in the manner disclosed in the before-mentioned application.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown several embodiments of the inven tion, but it will be understood that the drawing is to be understood as being illustrative only and is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

Fig. l is a side view of a container closure or bottle cap embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the cap shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 2, but 'showing alternative constructions.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the cap in place on a bottle.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the core pin on which the cap is molded.

Referring particularly to Figs. l and 2 of the drawing, l represents as an entirety a container closure embodying the invention, the specific closure illustrated being a bottle cap. The external contour or configuration of the bottle cap l is immaterial insofar as the present invention is concerned, and I have therefore shown a bottle cap of conventional design. It will be understood, however, that the bottle cap may be formed with any usual or desired external design or contour.

\ 'Ihe closure 1 is preferably molded from a material of the articial resin type and is provided with a skirt 2 having suitable means adapted to mechanically interengage with corresponding means on the bottle or other container so as to mechanically hold the cap in place. Preferably and as shown these mechanical retaining means are internal threads 3 which are adapted to engage corresponding external threads on the bottle or other container.

At the upper end of the closure or cap there is a downward facing surface 4, and a liner 5 is located within the cap with its fiat upper surface resting against the flat surface 4 of the cap. The liner 5 is preferably formed with a convex lower surface 6 which is adapted to engage the mouth of a bottle or other container.

For holding the liner 5 in place I provide a connector which is firmly attached or secured to the liner and which has a portion embedded in the material of which the closure or cap is formed. The connector'is preferably embedded in the said mater1al during the process of molding thereof. The connector referred to may be variously formed, and in Fig. 2 I have shown a connector 7 which Vis formed of a material such as metal, different from the materials of which the liner and the cap are formed. The connector 7 is shown as having at its lower end a large fiat head 8 which is embedded in the rubber or other material of which the liner 5 is formed. The upper portion of the connector 7 is provided with notches or other irregularities at 9 which provide offset surfaces adapted to prevent withdrawal of the connector from the material of the cap. It will be observed that the connector 7 serves to provide a positive means for holding the liner in place and that accidental removal of the liner is entirely impossible.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a construction very similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but diering only in that the upper portion of the connector 7a is bent over as indicated at 9a to provide the necessary offset surfaces to prevent withdrawal of the connector.

In Fig. 4 I have shown .a construction differing substantially from those shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in that the connector, instead of being formed of a-separate material, is formed as an integral part of the liner. The liner l0 shown in Fig. 4 is provided with an integral upward extending projection ll having undercut surfaces at its sides. The liner l0 with the projection or connector ll thereon is molded in place in the cap 12, the material of the cap being formed around the connector 1l and serving to positively hold the liner 10 in place.

Y Fig. 5 shows a combined container closure and liner assembly in place on a bottle. The construction illustrated is that shown in Fig. 2, but it will be understood that the co-operation with the bottle is the same with the other constructions shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It will be apparent that the liner 5 is relatively thick at the line of engagement with the bottle mouth and that the resilient material of the liner will conform to irregularities in the' bottle mouth so as to form an effective seal.

In Fig. 6 I have shown how the liner may be put in place during the molding of the cap. The construction shown in Fig. 2 is illustrated, but the procedure is the saine for the constructions shown in Figs. 3 and 4. There is provided a threaded core pin A around which the bottle cap l isy molded. The pin A has a recess a at the top of the proper size and shape to receive and hold the liner 5. Prior to the commencement of the molding operation the liner 5 is put in place on the core pin as indicated, and then the molding of the cap l is effected in the ordinary manner. It will be apparent that upon completion of the molding of the cap the connector 7 is embedded in the material forming the top wall of the cap, thus serv-y ing to positively hold the liner in place. By thus placing the liner during the process of molding I eliminate the separate operation which has heretofore been necessary for placing the liner in the completed cap.

What I claim is:

l. A container closure and liner assembly comprislng in combination, a resilient liner adapted to engage the mouth of a container to seal it, a connector attached to the liner and projecting upward therefrom, and a molded closure of the cap type having its top wall molded around and over the upper portion of the connector.

2. A container closure and liner assembly comprising in combination, a resilient liner thicker at the center than at the periphery and having an annular inclined surface adapted to engage the mouth of a container to seal it, a connector attached to the liner and projecting upward therefrom, and a molded closure of the cap type having its top wall molded around and over the upper portion of the connector.

3. A container closure and liner assembly comprising in combination, a connector, a resilient liner molded around and under the lower portion of the connector and adapted to engage the mouth of a container to seal it, and a molded closure of the cap type having its top wall molded around and over the upper portion of the connector.

4. A container closure and liner assembly comprising in combination, a connector, a resilient liner thicker at the center than at the periphery and having an annular inclined surface' adapted to engage the mouth of a container to seal it, the said thicker central portion of thev liner bein molded around and under the lower portion of the connector, and a molded closure of the cap type having its top wall molded around and over the upper portion of the connector.

5. A container closure and liner assembly comprising in combination, a connector having at its lower end a large at head and having olf-set surfaces on its upper rtion, a resilient liner molded around an under the said large Hat head of the connector and adapted to engage the mouth of a container to seal it, and a molded closure of the cap type having its top Wall molded around and over the upper ortion of the connector and engaging the sald off-set surfaces thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of May, 1931.

` BENJAMIN F. CONNER. 

